Für unsere Gäste » is inarguably the teams best scorer -- had a s

For the next week, the South African squad will not be enjoying romantic sunsets with their other halves. Instead, at twilight, they want to be on the cricket field, preparing for their first day-night Test in the time frame they have identified as the trickiest to play with the pink ball.As the natural light fades and artificial ones take over, the pink ball becomes what JP Duminy called gloomy and, so, more difficult to see. Duminy admitted the South African players, who have limited experience with the pink ball, dont really understand whether the colouration of ball or the changing hues from the environment affect visibility but confirmed the contrast is significant. Its definitely a difference that you see, but I cant give you the scientific reason why that is. Weve still got to work that out.At dusk, the pink ball also starts to move a little more and so, for batsmen, survival in that period is key. Youve just got to fight through that phase, Duminy said. Its obviously new to us, pink-ball cricket and day-night Test cricket. Weve got to get used to it. And thats why we wanted to bat as much as possible in that period during the warm-up game.For their warm-up match at the MCG on Saturday night, South Africa chose to bowl first to give their batsmen time in the middle when things got tough. The sun only set around 8pm - which will be the same as Adelaide - so the first hour of the final session is the most crucial. The second hour of that session takes place in complete darkness when Duminy said it actually becomes a little bit easier to see the ball.Hashim Amla batted through that twilight period and it became clear that his scoring slowed and the only chance he gave away, a catch to slip, came then. Both Duminy and Faf du Plessis were dismissed then too. With net sessions scheduled for that time, Duminy is hopeful they can tighten up. I dont know if its a danger, maybe its just something we need to be wary of. The more we can spend time in that light... its the same sort of thing in the practice nets as well. The more we can spend time under that sort of light, the easier it will be for us.The converse of all that is South Africa could end up in the field at that time, when their bowlers will come into play in a big way. After Steven Smith lamented Australias inability against the seaming, swinging or spinning ball, it may transpire that they too have problems against the pink ball, even though they are more experienced with it.Kyle Abbott and Tabraiz Shamsi were the most economical and effective bowlers at the MCG, but Duminy believes South Africas entire attack would prove useful with pink ball in hand. KG [Kagiso Rabada] has been pretty effective too, he swings the ball a little bit, Duminy said. The main thing is that most the guys are in good form, which is great for us, and its not determined by the colour of the ball in terms the areas you want to hit, the lengths you want to it, it stays the same no matter what the colour of the ball.Twilight is also a tricky time for close-in fielders, so drills will be an important part of this weeks practises. In certain positions, it becomes a little more challenging. Its all about preparation; how much time you can spend in that light, catching balls, fielding, Duminy said.If you think about any sort of sport - if you think about a golfer, for example, he needs to be on the practise range to get better. Thats the sort of approach we are taking.Because South Africa had not any time on the range, so to speak, before this tour, they were hesitant about playing a pink-ball Test when it was first proposed. Their major worry was that the series would be riding on the match and they would be at a disadvantage. The opposite has happened.As a contest, the series is over and this fixture is a dead-rubber, albeit with a difference: its Australias chance for redemption and South Africas to rally around a captain with a cloud hanging over him. Still, Duminy believes they hold the advantage. We are probably sitting in the pound seats in terms of the concerns around the pink-ball Test but that doesnt change the motivation and the desire to win the game, Duminy said. The goal was always to win the series, however that came about; now we sit with an opportunity to win 3-0, so thats the new goal.Dennis Maruk Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Rod Langway Jersey . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. http://www.capitalsteamstoreonline.com/authentic-christian-djoos-capitals-jersey/ . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Jonas Siegenthaler Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Mike Gartner Capitals Jersey . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said.STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State stars Victoria Vivians and Morgan William were at their best during the 10th-ranked Bulldogs 79-68 victory over No. 8 Texas on Sunday.That wasnt a surprise. Its what the Bulldogs did without those two on the floor that turned some heads.William scored 23 points and Vivians added 19, but it was a second-quarter run largely led by the teams reserves that helped put the Longhorns away.Our kids, that second quarter, really answered the bell and got after it, Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer said. We got some real critical stops and then we really were attacking the rim.Mississippi State (4-0) pulled away in the second quarter thanks to some valuable minutes from the bench -- especially backup guards Roshunda Johnson and Jazzmun Holmes -- and a suffocating defense that held the Longhorns without a field goal for the final 9:40 of the half.The Bulldogs had a 26-9 advantage in the second quarter to turn a tie game into a 42-25 halftime lead. Johnson had seven points and Holmes added three during the run while Vivians and William were their biggest cheerleaders on the sideline.Everybodys stepped their game up, Vivians said. Everybody can go to the basket. Everyone can score.Texas (1-2) had 15 turnovers in the first half and 24 in the game.We got a little frantic in some situations, Texas coach Karen Aston said.Brooke McCarty led Texas with 19 points, and Ariel Atkins added 18. Texas lost despite shooting a respectable 27 of 56 from the field (48.2 percent) and outrebounded the Bulldogs 36-26.The Longhorns pulled within 48-40 in the third quarter, but couldnt get any closer.There were a whole lot of positives, Aston said. Even the turnovers, most of them were in the first half. We pulled within in eight points, but then we forced some things. Young kids trying to make something happen every possession.William shhot 5 of 11 from the field and 13 of 14 from the free-throw line while also adding six rebounds and three steals.ddddddddddddDominique Dillingham added 10 points for the Bulldogs.INSTANT OFFENSEMississippi State played 10 players on Sunday, including nine who were on the roster last season. The only new player was Johnson, a 5-foot-7 junior guard who transferred from Oklahoma State and sat out last season.Shes been excellent so far this season, averaging nearly 12 points per game as a consistent scoring option with the second team off the bench.BIG PICTURETexas: Its been a tough start to the season for Texas, which has now lost two of its first three games. Both of those losses -- against Stanford and Mississippi State -- came against good teams, but they provide ample evidence that the Longhorns have some work to do to be among the nations elite.Mississippi State: The Bulldogs lost to Texas in Austin last season, but won against the Longhorns with relative ease on their home court. Vivians -- who is inarguably the teams best scorer -- had a solid game, but it was the consistent production from others like William, Dillingham, Chinwe Okorie and the bench that was most important for Mississippi State.LIMPING SCHAEFERSchaefer was noticeably limping during the second half of the game, and the coach said he believed it was his due to a case of gout in his feet. Vivians and William had to nearly carry Schaefer into the postgame press conference.UP NEXTTexas: The Longhorns return home to face Northwestern State on Wednesday.Mississippi State: The Bulldogs face Oregon on Friday in the opening round of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Tournament in Honolulu on Friday.----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP ' ' '